Building covering



y 1938- E. L. BLACK 2,117,014

BUILDING COVERING Filed Feb. 11, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 9% M- id w waw 57% Q i y May 10, 193a E BLACK 2,117,014

BUILDING COVERING Filed Feb. 11, 1937 5 Slqeqts-Sheet 2 I WK May 10, 1938. E, A K 2,117,014

BUILDING COVERING Filed Feb. 11, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 10, 1938 PATENT OFFICE 2,117,014 BUILDING COVERING Elam L. Black, Ghicago, Ill., assignor to Edward Roscoe Black, James E. Black, and Elam L. Black,v a. copartnership doing business as Black Systems, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 11, 1937, Serial No. 125,235

15 Claims. (Cl. 108-33) My invention relates to building coverings. More particularly it has to do with the covering or' concealment of anchoragesusually nails employedto hold down the exposed portions of some varieties of building coverings-especially roll or strip prepared roofing.

Because of its particularly effective adaptation to what is generally and herein termed prepared roofing and the widespread and increasing use of this material as a covering for the roofs and side walls of buildings, the invention will be explairied and typical examples of its application will be illustrated with special reference to this material.

1 both surfaces with asphalt or other preserving,

binding and waterproofing material. Sometimes this sheet material is used plain as a building covering; although more frequently one surface is coated with an outer" protective and decorative layer'of granular material such as sl'at'e.

One popular form in which such prepared roofing is handled and applied or laid, is relatively long strips which are usually sold in rolls, hence the term roll roofing, Roll roofing is generally applied or laid' on the roofs and side walls of buildings by placing the strips-either horizontally or verticallyso that one edge of each overlaps an edge of the immediately preceding strip, while the other edge is overlapped by an edge of the immediately succeedingstrip. Ordinarily each strip is anchored by two rows of nails, one along and adjacent the overlapped edge and the other along and adjacent the exposed edge, which are driven .therethrough and into the underlying building framework. The row of nails along the overlapped edge of a strip is covered by the overlapping portion of the succeeding strip, but the nails along the uncovered or overlapping. edge ,of a strip are exposed to the weather.

When anchored in this manner the action of alternately applied heat and cold directly upon the heads of the exposed nails brings about serious consequences. Thus, during the heat of the .day-particularly in the summer, timethese nails, having their heads directly exposed to the sun, expand and the expansion is greater at the outer or top' end than at the inner or bottom end. This unequal expansion causes the nail to push itself outwardlyit may well be until the headi's from or A" above the surface of the roofing. The roofing material, particularly along the exposed edge, also expands and, because the nail heads are no longer in tight contact with it, the roofing tends to raise off of the underlying iraniewo rkan'd assume a length between nails wh is greater than the spacing of the nails. Duririfgltl'ie cooler intervals, such as at night, the nails contract at a rate greater and to a greater extent than does the roofing and underlying building framework and thereby tend to leave open spaces about their shanks and heads. The result is that the roofing wrinkles, the nail holes become permanently enlarged permitting the nails to become loose so they no longer hold the overlapping edges down tightly against the overlapped portions of preceding strips. All of these phenomena are cumulative, with the result that a leaky and unsightly roof or wall covering follows from the exposure to the Weather of the cover-anchoring nails. If the exposed nails rust, the difficulties are further aggravated.

So far as I am aware, no satisfactory and generally feasible method of concealing anchoring nails used in exposed portions of strip or roll roof ing has as yet been devised.

One of' the objects of my invention is to provide for the effective covering and protecting of anchoring nails used in exposed portions of roof andwallr coverings, particularly of the strip or roll variety.

Another object is to provide an anchoragecovering which may also serve effectively to cover and clamp down the edges of seams between strips of roof covering material.

A further object is to provide an anchoragecovering whichmay be used to reinforce the edges or roof covering material.

Another object is to provide a nail covering which is relatively simple, inexpensive, and easy to apply.

Another object is-to provide a coverage which not only will not detract from the appearance of v the finished roof or wall but may, in fact, be

utilized to, improve the appearance.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

Ingeneral, my invention comprehends the provision of flexible or hinged flaps or tongues preferably formed along the sides of a narrow body strip of the same material, but which may be formed inthe'edges of the roofing strips themselves -which may be progressively and successively folded over upon the body portion and a part of the preceding tongue to cover the nails thcrebelow.

Typical examples of efiective anchorage-coverings are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective of a roof covered with strips of prepared roofing laid horizontallythe exposed areas of such strips being anchored by nails which are effectively covered and protected either by vertically or by horizontally arranged anchorage-covering strips as desired;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan of an anchorage-covering strip as it is cut from a sheet of prepared roofing material, with its flaps or tongues laid fiat or extended, ready for application to a building roof or side wall;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective of an anchorage-covering strip showing its application by the progressive folding in upon the body of succeeding tongues or fiaps;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a section of strip or roll roofing,showing how the anchorage-covering strip may be formed as an integral part thereof, to be separated by the workman as the laying of the roof covering proceeds;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of a part of a roof covered with strips of prepared roofing laid vertically (i. e., from eave to ridge) and overlapping horizontally, the initially exposed vertical edges of the overlying strips and the anchoring nails applied therealong being covered by anchoragecovering strips also laid vertically;

Fig. 6 shows a plan of a roof or wall covering employing a modified form of anchorage-cover- I ing strip;

Fig. 7 is a plan, with the flaps extended 01' open, of an anchorage-covering strip such as may be used where straight strips meet at a corner;

Fig. 8 is a plan view, partly broken away, showing the anchorage covering in part formed by one of the roof-covering strips;

Fig. 9 shows a plan view, partly broken away, of a further modification wherein the edges of adjacent roofing strips form the entire anchorage-covering;

Fig. 10 is a plan view, in part closed and in part open, of a modified anchorage-covering strip adapted to present a slightly different appearance;

Fig. 11 is a plan view, in part closed and in part open, of a modified anchorage-covering strip employing interlocking tabs or tongues;

Fig. 12 shows another modification particularly suitable for uses hereinafter set forth, and

Fig. 13 is a perspective of another modification. Referring first to Fig. 1, the roof shown is covered with strips of roll roofing, A, B, C, D, etc.,-commonly supplied in widths of from 16" i to 36--which are laid horizontally or from side to side of the roof. The laying of the roof covering strips proceeds from the bottom or eave upwardly. Thus, strip A is first positioned and,

r as a whole, anchored in place by a row of nails driven therethrough, in the region along its upper edge which subsequently will be covered by the lower edge portion of the next succeeding strip B, and into the building framework. Next, the strip B is laid and secured in the same manner with its lower or butt edge overlapping the upper edge of strip A to the desired extentsay about 2"adequately to cover the upper row of anchoring nails of strip A. In like manner the laying of succeeding roof covering strips proceeds until the entire roof is covered.

With the roof (or side wall) covering thus laid without nails through any part of the exposed portions of the roofing strips, such strips, as a whole, are anchored in place by the nails driven therethrough along and adjacent the upper edges; but the exposed areas are unanchored and may be easily displaced by the wind. Such displacement would soon result in a leaky and unsightly covering and may even result in sections of the covering being broken ofi entirely. In order to preserve the covering the strips must be anchored, at least at intervals, over the exposed areas.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the necessary exposedarea-anchorages may be effected by vertical rows,

of nails. 20, which rows are spaced apart by a distance or interval that, depending upon the thickness, stiffness, and possibly other characteristics of the roofing material, the conditions to be encountered and the permanence and appearance wanted, will give the desired results. A row spacing of about 12" will afford satisfactory results under ordinary conditions. And these vertical rows of nails, applied along what, for convenience, I term the anchorage line (indicated by the line X-Y in Figs. 1 and 3), are covered by anchorage-covering strips 2| which are preferably, although not necessarily, made of the same prepared roofing material as the roof covering strips.

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrates what ordinarily may be the simplest, most convenient and generally satisfactory form for the anchorage-covering strips, and their method of application. Each strip comprises a longitudinal fiat body portion 22 flanked on opposite sides by tongues or flaps 232323" etc. and 242424" etc., the flaps or tongues on one side of the body portion being offset or staggered with respect to those of the other side. Preferably the body portion and flaps of the strip are formed integrally from a suitable length of prepared roofing material. Parallel scoring or slightly out lines 25 and 26 define the junction between flaps and body portion and along which the flaps may hinge upon the body portion. The slits 21 and 28 separate the tongues or flaps and define the upper and lower edges of each. The preferred ofisetting or staggering of the tongues on opposite sides of the body portion is effected by locating the slits on one side approximately midway between the slits on the other side of the body. In order to present a particularly pleasing appearance, the tongue-separation slits 21 and 28 may be related diagonally to the hinge lines as shown.

In applying an anchorage-covering strip, the flat body portion 22 thereof is laid upon the roof covering with its median line coinciding approximately with the vertical line from eave to ridge along which the anchoring nails for the exposed areas of the roof covering are to be driven. In other words each anchorage line of the exposed areas of the roof covering strips is overlaid with the body portion of an anchorage-covering strip. Spaced anchorage lines, marked upon the roof covering at the desired intervals or indicated by a few nails driven through the covering in lines which have been properly spaced, will serve to show where the body portions of the strips should be placed. When the body portion has been properly located it may be secured in place by a few nails, such as indicated at 29, driven at intervals therethrough and through the roof covering into the underlying building framework.

After the strip, with its flaps open or outspread like manner by a nail 31.

as shown in Fig. 2 and the top portion of Fig. 3, is thus anchored in place its flaps or tongues are, beginning at the bottom and alternately from right to left, folded over upon the body portion and nailed down. First, flap 23 is folded over upon the body portion 22 and nailed down by nail 30, the nail being applied therethrough below its upper edge in the region that will be subsequently covered by the lower portion of flap 24 when flap 24 is bent or hinged over upon the body portion. Next, flap 24 is bent over and upon the body portion to cover nail 30 and is nailed down in Then flap 23' is similarly manipulated and nailed down to cover nail 3| and its nail is later covered by flap 24. This procedure continues, successively folding over and nailing down flaps at the right-hand and left-hand sides of the body portion, each succeeding flap covering the nail of the preceding flap-until the top of the strip is reached. Like procedure is followed for the other strips throughout the roof surface until all have been so applied. The nails driven through thelast flaps to be folded over may be covered by the usual ridge strip 32. It should here be noted that, at least as far as possible, or feasible, the flaps or tongues should be folded over the body portion in that order or sequence which will insure that the lower rather than the upper edges thereof are exposed in order that water may run down over the same rather than up and under them.

Of course,1it is not always necessary, and it may be sometimes undesirable to apply a nail through each tongue, inasmuch as each is held down by the one which is next folded down and, consequently, nails at quite long intervals may be supplied. In fact, a suitable cement instead of nails may be used to hold the tongues down in place after they have been folded over the body portion. In the event cement or .nails at relatively widely spaced intervals are employed to hold down the tongues, it usually will be advisable to apply nails through the body portionsat shorter intervals so as to insure that the strips are properly anchored.

The overall width of the anchorage-covering strips may be varied as desired. Preferably the transverse width of the tongues should be such that they completely overlap each other transversely when folded over upon the body portion,i. e., for very thin material the tongue or flap width and the width of the body portion should be approximately equal. The length of the tongues should be such that the exposed and unanchored :portion of each is sufficiently short to enable the stiffness of the material of which the strip is composed to insure that the wind and weather cannot cause the'exposed portion to be unduly lifted or otherwise displaced so as to uncover the nail through the upper portion of the preceding flap or to create an unsightly appearance.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that, at desirably spaced intervals, the

exposed portions of each roofing strip will be setected against :the .heat ofithe .sun and other weather conditions; that the anchorage-covering strips are simple, inexpensive and easy to apply in a proper manner; and that these anchorage-covering strips may, by proper spacing, .add to the appearance .of the roof or building side wall by seeming to break up or interrupt long stretches of the sheet roofing material.

If desired, the anchorage-covering strips can be laid, in whole or in part, horizontally along and overlying the exposed butt edges of the covering strips,i. e., over the horizontal seams be tween the covering strips. In other words, horizontally laid anchorage-covering strips can be used in place of the vertically disposed strips or they can be used in conjunction with the vertical strips, as indicated by the strips 2| of Fig. 1, to give the roof or side wall the appearance of having been covered in rectangular panels. Anchorage-covering strips thus laid along and overlying the exposed butt edges of the covering strips also. serve to reinforce theseams between the covering strips and to securely clamp down the exposed butt edges of covering strips throughout their length.

The anchorage-covering strips may, if desired, be cut to and supplied in rather short lengths to facilitate handling. Thus, as shown at the bottom of Fig. 2, one end of each strip section may, for example, be formed in the shape of a projecting angle while its other end is formed in the shape of a corresponding internal angle. With such relatively short sections each anchoragecovering strip can be built up to the necessary total length by adding sections one after and in line with another,the complementary ends of adjacent sections being fitted together as the sections are successively laid in position upon the roof or wall, as indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 3.

Instead of forming the anchorage-covering strips from separate lengths or strips of material, they may be formed and handled'and stocked integrally with the larger strips of roof covering. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the body portion and tongues of an anchorage-covering strip 35, in all respects similarto the constructions heretofore and hereinafter described, may be formed along and in effect as a part of a roof covering strip 36. The line 31 which marks the boundary between the roof covering and anchor age-covering strips may be only partly cut through so that the strips can be rolled together and thereby handled as a unit until such time as they should be separated in the laying operation. Then the workman can easily separate the two strips by pulling them apart along the line of partial separation and proceed as heretofore described.

Fig. 5 shows a roof laid with roofing strips A, B, C, D, etc., which extend up and down the roof from eave to ridge and which are overlapped horizontally (either to the right or to the left) in a manner similar to that heretofore described in connection with Fig. 1 for vertically overlapping roofing strips. In the completion of this roof covering the vertical overlapping edges of the roofing strips-4. e., the vertical seamsand such nails as may have been applied therealong to hold the roof covering strips in place, are overlaid by anchorage-covering strips 43, 49', 49", etc. Such anchorage-covering strips may be formed and applied in the manner heretofore explained in connection with Figs. 1 to 3.

If desired, an anchorage covering strip 40', either as a continuous stripor in sections fitting between the vertical strips, can be applied along the cave edge of the roof covering to reinforce it and insure its remaining tightly against the underlying framework.

In Fig. 6, wherein the strip roofing is laid horizontally as in Fig. 1, the anchorage-covering strips are individual to each roofing strip and are staggered for adjacent roofing strips so as to break up the strip appearance and afford more nearly the visual eifect of individual shingles. In such cases the anchorage-covering strips 4| are only slightly longer than the length of the exposed area of the roofing strip. When laying a roof covering in this manner the lower roofing strip is first positioned and anchoredin place. Then the anchorage-covering strips 4|, spaced at the desired intervals along the roof, are applied as previously described so that the upper ends thereof, as well as the upper region of the associated roofing strip, will be overlapped and covered by the next strip of roofing material to be laid. In like manner the second roofing strip and its associated anchorage-covering strips are next applied to the roof, the anchorage-covering strips preferably being located horizontally on lines midway between the vertical strips of the first covering strip so as to give the staggered appearance shown in Fig. 6; and so on, until the entire roof or side wall has been covered.

Fig. 7 shows how a corner anchorage-covering unit may be formed. Units of this kind may sometimes be desirable where two straight anchorage-covering strips come together at a right angle such, for example, as is the case with strips 48 and 40", at the lower left-hand corner of Fig. 5. This corner unit, which is shown laid out for a lower left-hand corner, has a body portion 42-42, of L shape. About this body portion are a bottom flap 43 hinged thereto along the line 44, an upper flap 45 hinged to the body along the line 46, side flaps 41 and 48 hinged to the body along the line 49, and a side fiap 50 hinged to the opposite side of the body portion along the line 5|. In applying such a corner unit lower fiap 43 is first folded up over body portion 42 and anchored by a nail driven therethrough and into the building framework. This nail should, of course, be placed so that it will be covered by upper flap 45 when the same is folded over or closed. Then fiap 45 is folded down over the body portion 42' and the right-hand portion of flap 43 and nailed in position by a nail applied therethrough near its right-hand edge,-wl1ich nail may be subsequently covered by the horizontal straight strip with which it cooperates. Next, flap 41 is closed or folded over the body portion 42 covering the left-hand portion of flap 43 and any nail that was driven therethrough. Then flap 56 is similarly folded and nailed and then flap 48 is folded over or closed. Finally, the straight anchor-covering strip which is to align with body portion 42 is started over or upon the top of folded or closed fiap 48 and its flaps are similarly folded over and nailed down as heretofore described. From this figure and description of a unit for alower left-hand corner it will be readily apparent how similar units may be formed for the other corners.

Fig. 8 shows a modification wherein an anchorage-covering strip with fiapsalong only one edge thereof, instead of along both edges, is employed,the supplementary flaps being formed in the edge of the roofing strip. In this figure the roofing strips 55 and 56 are overlapped horizontally with a right-hand lap. That is, with the left-hand edge 51 of strip 55 overlapped by the right-hand edge of strip 56. The anchoragecovering strip 58 has a body portion 62 along one side edge of which (i. e., the right-hand edge for a right-hand lap) are the fiaps 63, 63, 63", etc. The right-hand overlapping edge of roofing strip 56 is formed with similar flaps or tongues 64, 64, 64", etc. In laying a roof covering with this arrangement, the roofing strips are laid with the right-hand edge of one strip overlying the left-hand edge portion of the adjacent strip as much as desired. Then, with the flaps along the edge of the overlapping roofing strip folded back or open, as shown at the top of Fig. 8, the anchorage covering strip 58 is located upon the overlapped roofing strip (e. g., strip 55) until the untongued edge 65 of its body portion aligns with the hinge or fold line 66 of the tongues of roofing strip 56 and its tongues are properly staggered with respect to the tongues on the roofing strip. Now tongue 63 of the anchorage-covering strip is folded or closed upon the body portion and anchored down by a nail 61 as previously described. Next, a flap 64 of the roofing strip is folded or closed over the body portion of the anchoragecovering strip and the upper nailed part of tongue 63 thereof and nailed down. Then tongue 68 is folded in and nailed, next tongue 64 and so on, until all of the tongues have been turned in to closed position and nailed down.

Fig. 9 shows a further modification wherein both sets of anchorage-covering tongues or flaps are formed in the adjacent edges of the roofing strips 15 and 16. Here tongues l3, l3, 13'', etc. are formed upon the left-hand edge of roofing strip 75 and tongues l4, 14', 14'', etc. are formed on the right-hand edge of roofing strip 16. In laying roofing strips of this type they are brought closely enough together so that their tongue hinge-lines TI and 18 are spaced apart approximately the width of the tongues. The tongues may, beginning at the bottom, then be sequentially and alternately folded in or closed and nailed down as previously described. However, in order to afford greater protection against leakage, I prefer to provide an underlying sealing strip 19 which may be formed from the same material as the roofing strips. Still a greater degree of protection against leakage may be given by folding inwardly the marginal edges 80 and 8| of sealing strip 19 which, even after being thus folded, should be wide enough to extend beyond the hinge lines of the tongues, as shown clearly in Fig. 9, so as to form, in effect, a gutter below the overlapping tongues of the roofing strips. Nails 82 driven through this sealing strip along the anchorage line initially to hold it in place and also the nails applied through the tongues as they are folded over will serve to depress the central region of the sealing strip relatively to its lateral edges to afiord some degree of a gutter effect even if its marginal edges are not turned in and to increase the effect if the edges are turned in.

Fig. 10 shows a modified form of anchoragecovering strip wherein the slits defining the tongues are normal to the hinge lines. This type or anchorage-covering strip presents a somewhat different appearance from the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3, but in all essential respects is applied and functions in substantially the same manner. Of course, it will be understood that, by the shaping of the edges of the fiaps, other designs can be produced if desired.

Fig. 11 shows a further modification wherein complementary notches or slits 85 and projections B6 in the adjacent edges of the flaps may be interfitted to interlock the tongues at the extreme lower exposed edges thereof. i Under some conditions this interlocking construction may be preferred to the types heretofore described, particularly if the material is extremely thin and flexible, because it locks down to the roof the extreme lower edges of the exposed portions of the flaps or tongues. This interlocking of the exposed edges of the tongues to the underlying tongues will be especially effective if it is deemed necessary or' advisable to dispense with the nails or cement for anchoring down the tongues of the anchoragecovering strips. It will be understood, of course, that the interlocking tongue types of strips will be dependent entirely upon nails driven through their body portions to hold them in place on the roof.

Fig. 12 shows a modification wherein an additional padding or reinforcing strip is employed to thicken the anchorage-covering strip when finally laid. Such an arrangement may be used when it is desired that the demarcations produced by the strips shall be more pronounced than would be afforded merely by the thickness of superposed layers of the body portion and fiaps of the anchorage-covering strip or when it is desired to strengthen and reinforce the strips without using heavier or stronger material. It also may be of advantage where it is necessary to heat-insulate the nails as might be the case, for example, if the anchorage-covering strips are of tin or other relatively good heat-conducting material. For example, if the anchorage-covering strips are of tin and the flaps thereof are folded down directly against the heads of the nails, the heat of the sun thereon may heat up and expand the nails to an extent almost as great as though the heads were uncovered. In this modified arrangement the strips may be fashioned with an elongated flat body portion and hinged flaps along opposite sides thereof in staggered relation, in general, as previ-- ously described. There is, however, this difference-the flaps are joined to the body portion along each side by two folds or hinges which are separated by what may be termed a flange. The height of this flange is determined by the thick ness of the padding strip. Thus, as shown, the anchorage-covering strip has a back portion 92 and flanking flaps or tongues 93, 93', 93", etc. and 94, 94, 96", etc. Between the flaps 83, 93', 93", etc. and the body portion 92 is a flange 95 joined to the flaps and to the body portion along two hinge or fold lines 96 and 91, respectively. Likewise, between the opposite flaps 94, 94', 94", etc. and the body portion 92 is a flange 98 hinged to the flaps and to the body portion along hinge or fold lines 99 and. IE0, respectively. A padding strip I05, having a width approximately equal to the width of the body portion 92 and a thickness which will give the desired visual, reinforcing or heat-insulating effects, is laid upon the body portion before the flaps are folded in or closed. This padding strip may be made from any suitable-preferably relatively poor heatconducting material, such as wood, fibre, or prepared roofing. A metal reinforcing strip may be used under some circumstances.

In utilizing this arrangementparticularly if the anchorage-covering strip is made of tin or other good heat-conducting materiaL-the nails primarily depended upon to anchor down the ex posed portions ofthe roofing strips should be applied before the anchorage-covering strip is applied or, if not then, they should be applied through the back portion. 92 before the padding or reinforcing strip is put in position there- 0ver,--such, for example, as is indicated by the nails I06. And, instead of using nails to hold down the tongues, it will be the better practice to employ cement; or, if desired, an interlocking construction such as indicated in Fig. 11 may be used. In this way the padding strip will be interposed between the heads of the nails which are depended upon to hold the roofing and anchoragecovering strips in place, and the flaps or tongues of the anchorage-covering strip. After the roofing has been laid and the anchorage-covering strips have been nailed in position, the progressive folding over and cementing down of the flapsor the interlocking of the flaps proceeds in the usual manner.

Fig. 12 shows another characteristic which may be found desirable, in all of the constructions illustrated, whenever the thickness of the material of which the anchorage-covering strips are formed, is anything other than extremely thin. This characteristic is the tapering of each flap or tongue from the end which will remain exposed toward the end which will be overlapped or covered by a succeeding tongue. In other words, each tongue is wider at its exposed end than at the covered end. This taper is for the purpose of compensating for the thickness of the underlying portion of the preceding tongue and. thereby enable the marginal edges of the tongues accurately to align with each other when the tongues are folded over the body portion in final position.

Fig. 13 shows a further modification wherein each flap or tongue is provided with a flange hinged thereto along its outer edge. This medification is in all respects like that illustrated in Fig. 12, except for the addition of the flanges i9 hinged to the outer edges of flaps 93, 93, 83', etc., and the flanges l l l hinged to the outer edges of flaps 94, 94','94", etc. In applying anchoragecovering strips made in accordance with this modification, the flanges along the outer edges of the tongues fit over the opposite edges of padding strip and are firmly clamped into place when asucceeding tongue is folded in.

It will be apparent that the hinge connection between any flap or tongue and the body portion needs ordinarily to be only transient. That is, if the hinge connection exists until the flap has been moved from open position substantially into closed or back-portion-overlying position so properly to relate the same to the preceding flap which it overlaps and to the succeeding flap by which it is overlapped, the hinge connection has served its principal function. Subsequently, it may be of little consequence that the hinge connection is broken. This factor can be taken advantage of when the anchorage covering strips are formed from material which, initially or before it is used, becomes relatively brittle and difficult to bend. For example, the hinge lines between flaps and body portion may be cut so nearly through the material that when the flaps are folded or closed over upon the body portion the connection therebetween will actually break if the material is brittle. However, if the hinge connection remains until the flap is substantially closed, no harm will result. If, because of the character of the material or the conditions under which the anchorage-coveringstrips are to be laid, the bending necessary to close the flaps results in breakage along the hinge lines, it may be advisable to use two nails through each tongue to insure against its turning.

Although the foregoing description has treated only of the use of my anchorage coverings with building covering of the strip prepared roofing type it will be apparent that they may be used with coverings of other kinds. For example, they may be used to cover the seams of tin roofs or the joints in coverings of rigid material, such as asbestos sheets and the like.

Having thus explained the nature and illustrated several typical examples of my invention,

- what I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is as follows:

1. An anchorage-covering for building coverings, comprising flaps hinged on opposite sides of an anchorage line and movable about their hinges from a position away from the anchorage line into a position overlying the anchorage line, a part of each flap which is hinged on one side of the anchorage line being overlapped by a part of a flap hinged on the opposite side of the anchorage line and overlapping a part of another flap hinged on the opposite side of the anchorage line when the flaps are moved to overlie the anchorage line.

2. An anchorage-covering for building cover-.

ings, comprising a plurality of flaps hinged on opposite sides of an anchorage line and movable about their hinges from a position away from the anchorage line into a position overlying the anchorage line, the flaps on one side of the anchorage line being staggered with respect to the flaps on the other side of the anchorage line, a part of each flap which is hinged on one side of the anchorage line being overlapped by a part of a flap hinged on the opposite side of the anchorage line and overlapping a part of another flap hinged on the opposite side of the anchorage line when the flaps are moved into a position to overlie the anchorage line.

3. An anchorage-covering for building coverings comprising a strip for overlying an anchorage line, said strip having a substantially flat body portion to lie against the building covering along and overlying the anchorage line, and a series of flaps hinged to the body portion along opposite sides thereof, the flaps along one side of the body portion being staggered with respect to the flaps along the other side of the body portion and all of the flaps being movable about their hinges from an open position away from the body por-- tion into a closed position over the body portion in which closed position each flap on one side has a portion overlapped by a flap on the other side and also overlaps a portion of a flap on the other side.

4. An anchorage-covering for building coverings comprising a strip for overlying an anchorage line, said strip having a substantially flat body portion to lie against the building covering along and overlying the anchorage line, and a series of i'iaps hinged to the body portion along opposite sides thereof, the flaps along one side of the body portion being staggered with respect to the flaps along the other side of the body portion and all of the flaps being movable about their hinges from an open position away from the body portion into a closed position over the body portion in which closed position each flap on one side has a portion overlapped by a fiap on the other side and also overlaps a portion of a flap on the other side, and means for anchoring down to the building framework the overlapped portions of certain of said flaps.

5. An anchorage-covering for building coverings comprising a strip for overlying an anchorage line, said strip having a substantially flat body portion to lie against the building covering along and overlying the anchorage line, and a series of flaps hinged to the body portion along opposite sides thereof, the flaps along one side of the body portion being staggered with respect to the flaps along the other side of the body portion and all of the flaps being movable about their hinges from an open position away from the body portion into a closed position over the body portion in which closed position each flap on one side has a portion overlapped by a flap on the other side and also overlaps a portion of a flap on the other side, and a nail driven through certain of said flaps and into the building framework in the region where each is overlapped by another flap.

6. An anchorage-covering strip comprising an elongated substantially fiat body portion, and a series of flaps hinged thereto along its opposite edges, the flaps along one edge being staggered with respect to the flaps along the other edge so that when the flaps alternately from opposite sides of the body portion are successively swung to overlie the body portion each flap will overlap a portion of one flap from the other side and be partly overlapped by another flap from the other side.

7. An anchorage covering comprising a strip having an elongated flat body portion, and a series of flaps hinged along opposite edges of the body portion, the flaps along one edge of the body portion being staggered with respect to the flaps along the other edge of the body portion so that when the flaps are alternately from opposite sides of the body portion and successively swung about their hinges to overlie the body portion each flap will overlap a portion of one flap from the other side of the body portion and be partly overlapped by another flap from the other side; and a nail applied through some of the flaps in the region overlapped by another flap.

8. An anchorage-covering strip comprising an elongated substantially fiat body portion, a series of flaps hinged tothe body portion along its opposite edges, the flaps along one edge being staggered with respect to the flaps along the other edge so that when the flaps alternately from opposite sides of the body portion are successively swung about their hinges to overlie the body portion each flap will overlap a portion of one flap from the other side and be partly overlapped by another flap from the other side, and interfitting means in the edges of the flaps to interlock the same in position overlying the body portion.

9. A building covering comprising a series of covering strips of weatherproof material laid upon the building framework so that a portion of one covering strip is overlapped by a portion of a succeeding covering strip; a series of nails driven through the unlapped portions of the 00V- ering strips to form anchorage lines; and anchorage-covering strips for the nails, each anchorage-covering strip comprising an elongated body portion overlying an anchorage line, a series of flaps attached to the body portion along opposite edges thereof and overlying the body portion, each flap which is attached to one edge of the body portion overlapping a part of a flap which is attached to the other edge of the body portion and having a part overlapped by another flap which is attached to the other edge of the body portion; and means for holding the flaps in position overlying the body portion.

10. A building covering comprising a series of covering strips of weatherproof material laid upon the building framework so that a portion of one covering strip is overlapped by a portion of a succeeding covering strip; a series of nails driven through the unlapped portions of the covering strips to form anchorage lines; and anchoragecovering strips for the nails, each anchoragecovering strip comprising an elongated body portion overlying an anchorage line, a series of flaps attached to the body portion along opposite edges thereof and overlying the body portion, each flap which is attached to one edge of the body portion overlapping a part of a flap which is attached to the other edge of the body portion and having a part overlapped by another flap which is attached to the other edge of the body portion; and nails driven through the overlapped parts of some of the flaps and into the building framework.

1].. An anchorage-covering strip for building coverings comprising a body portion flanked on opposite sides by a series of flaps, said flaps being bendable from a position in the plane of the body portion into a closed position overlying the body portion and those on one side of the body portion being staggered With respect to those on the other side so that when successively from opposite sides of the body portion bent to overlie the body portion, each flap will overlap a part of one fiap from the other side of the body portion and will be in part overlapped by another flap from the other side of the body portion.

12. An anchorage-covering strip for building coverings comprising a body portion flanked on opposite sides by a series of flaps, said flaps being bendable from a position in the plane of the body portion into a closed position overlying the body portion and those on one side of the body portion being staggered with respect to those on the other side so that when successively from opposite sides of the body portion bent to overlie the body portion, each flap will overlap a part of one flap from the other side of the body portion and will be in part overlapped by another fiap from the other side of the body portion, and means for anchoring down the flaps in overlying and overlapping position.

13. An anchorage-covering strip for building coverings comprising a body portion flanked on opposite sides by a series of flaps, said flaps being bendable from a position in the plane of the body portion into a closed position overlying the body portion and those on one side of the body portion being staggered with respect to those on the other side so that when successively from opposite sides of the body portion bent to overlie the body portion, each flap will overlap a part of one flap from the other side of the body portion and will be in part overlapped by another flap from the other side of the body portion, and a nail driven through some of the closed flaps in the region overlapped by the succeeding flap.

14. An anchorage-covering strip formed as an integral unit from a sheet of flexible prepared roofing material and comprising a substantially fiat body portion, and contiguous flaps along two opposite edges thereof, the flaps along one edge of the body portion being staggered with respect to the flaps along the opposite edge so that When the flaps are bent along the connection with the body portion to overlie the same a flap from one edge of the body portion overlaps apart of a flap from the opposite edge and is overlapped in part by another flap from the opposite edge of the body portion.

15. An anchorage-covering strip formed as an integral unit from a sheet of material and comprising a substantially flat body portion, and contiguous flaps along two opposite edges thereof, the material being partly cut through along lines between the body portion and the flaps so as to render the flaps readily movable from positions in the plane of the body portion into positions overlying the body portion, the flaps along one edge of the body portion being staggered with respect to the flaps along the oppositeedge so that when the flaps are successively from opposite edges of the body portion moved to overlie the body portion a flap from one edge is overlapped by one fiap and overlaps another flap from the opposite edge.

' ELAM L. BLACK. 

